At least eight criminal convictions predating the infamous Horizon Post Office scandal are now under scrutiny by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). Sky News has learned that the cases involve the Capture software system, an earlier IT system used in Post Office branches during the early 1990s, prior to the rollout of Horizon in 1999. The CCRC is investigating potential miscarriages of justice linked to the system.
The Horizon scandal, which implicated hundreds of sub-postmasters wrongly convicted of theft due to accounting errors, has been widely regarded as one of the UK’s worst miscarriages of justice. Now, the Kroll report, commissioned by the government earlier this year, has identified that the Capture system also had bugs and glitches. The report suggested a “reasonable likelihood” that these technical flaws led to cash shortfalls, potentially resulting in wrongful convictions.
The CCRC is currently reviewing five cases where the Capture IT system is believed to have played a role and is seeking further details on eight cases highlighted in the Kroll report. A spokesperson for the CCRC stated that the complexity of these cases and the availability of evidence, especially in older cases, remain significant challenges.
Lord Beamish, formerly Labour MP Kevan Jones, has been advocating for justice for the affected individuals. He has called on the government to extend the provisions of the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Act, passed in May, to include victims of the Capture system. Currently, the act only covers those convicted under the Horizon system, leaving Capture victims to pursue lengthy legal processes to clear their names.
“The government are going to have to take this seriously,” Lord Beamish told Sky News. “We can’t have a two-tier system where people exonerated from Horizon are treated differently from those affected by Capture.” He has raised the issue with the Justice Secretary and urged a House of Lords debate, advocating for blanket exonerations similar to those granted to Horizon victims.
Lord Beamish also expressed concerns about the CCRC’s ability to handle these cases effectively, citing delays in Horizon-related reviews. “The problem with these cases is the lack of evidence… that has been destroyed or lost, making the process extremely difficult,” he said.
The investigation into Capture-linked cases raises fresh questions about the Post Office’s historical practices and underscores the need for comprehensive action to address longstanding injustices. As the government faces pressure to intervene, the resolution of these cases could mark another significant chapter in the ongoing Post Office scandal.
